Military victory in World War II gave Americans a burst of collective confidence and optimism for the future. The 1944 GI Bill of Rights (Serviceman's Readjustment Act) provided money for veterans to attend college and loans to buy homes. Returning veterans were anxious to have families, resulting in the "Baby Boom". The postwar years were a time of prosperity and optimism for many. See these mid-century moments captured by a husband and wife team. Headline news shots, including a nuclear bomb test, and the arrest of mass-murderer Charles Starkweather let you witness events first hands. Slices of life from 1950s-60s show Nebraska in the baby boom days.
The photographs in this exhibit are a selection from a larger collection that was shown in Brandenburg, Germany in 2014. The prints were donated to the Nebraska State Historical Society by Lea Ellermeier Nebsit of Dallas, Texas. The estate of Barbara and Ralph Fox (pictured) hold all copyright to all images.